Security Council strongly condemns firing of ballistic missile by DPR Korea
The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile yesterday by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), reiterating that such activities increase tension in the region and beyond.
“This incident constituted yet another serious violation by the DPRK of UN Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), 2094 (2013) and 2270 (2016),” said a press statement issued today by the 15-member body.
The members of the Security Council emphasized that the DPRK's development and testing of new ballistic missile capabilities, even if launches are failures, is “clearly prohibited” by these resolutions.
In this context, the Council reiterated its serious concern, as expressed in resolution 2270 (2016), that such ballistic missile activities contribute to the DPRK's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension in the region and beyond.
The members of the Council reiterated that the DPRK “shall refrain from further actions in violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions and comply fully with its obligations under these resolutions, including to suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program and in this context reestablish its previous commitments to a moratorium on missile launches.”
In light of these recent violations, the Council emphasized the importance of the work of its Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006), and urged all Member States to redouble their efforts to implement the measures imposed in all relevant Council resolutions.
The members of the Security Council particularly emphasized the need to strengthen implementation of the measures imposed in resolution 2270 (2016) and reiterated their call to Member States to report to the Council on concrete measures taken to effectively implement the provisions of that resolution.
In addition, the Council reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in North-east Asia at large, expressed their commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation, and welcomed efforts by Council members as well as other States to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue.
The Council agreed that it would continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures in line with its previously expressed determination.